A bill aimed at cracking down on unemployment fraud is near final approval in the Maine Legislature.

The House joined the Senate on Wednesday in approving the bill, which includes a "three strikes and you're out" clause for repeated fraudulent claims. It also identifies the consequences for unemployment fraud and misrepresentation, and clarifies that criminal prosecutions may be brought against workers and employers who commit unemployment fraud.

Majority Republicans said the bill strengthens Maine's unemployment laws and will reduce fraud.

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"Organized labor and its allies sought to preserve a special provision that they inserted during the 124th Legislature. Business leaders sought the same provision that is currently law in 31 other states that offsets unemployment benefits with vacation pay to avoid 'double dipping,'" the Maine Senate Republican office said in a release.

But Democrats said the bill will reduce benefits to unemployed Maine workers. They are upset over a provision they said delays unemployment benefits until after laid-off employees have used up their vacation time.

If the bill becomes a law, Maine would be one of only 11 states in the country that delays unemployment benefits based on having earned vacation pay, Maine Senate Democrats said in a release.